Politics & Government
Dearborn Voter Turnout Down From Last Presidential Election
Absentee ballots hit a record high, while turnout at the polls lagged.
Maybe it was the long lines, the indimidation factor of a two-page, double-sided ballot, or that there simply wasn't as much enthusiasm.
Whatever the case, Dearborn voter turnout in the 2012 general election did not hit expected levels. Of the city's 61,336 registered voters, 39,990 cast ballots on Tuesday—a 65.2 percent turnout.
In the 2008 presidential election, Dearborn saw a 69.61 percent turnout, or 42,206 of its then 60,633 registered voters.
Find out what's happening in Dearbornwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
City Clerk Kathy Buda had predicted a turnout closer to 70 percent this election, especially with the high number of absentee ballots cast.
But while absentee voters jumped to the highest number Buda has seen in her time working elections—9,201 total cast, up from 8,575 in 2008—slow numbers at the polls proved hard to make up.
Find out what's happening in Dearbornwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Numbers dropped all Dearborn precincts except four:
- Precinct 1, McDonald Elementary School
- Precinct 7, Lowrey Middle School
- Precinct 31, First Presbyterian Church
- Precinct 33, Howard Elementary School
According to Crain's Detroit Business, election officials said they expected the turnout overall in Michigan to be close to 2008's numbers.
The overall voter turnout in Michigan for the 2008 election was 66 percent.
Statewide and Wayne County voter turnout numbers had not been calculated as of Wednesday evening.
For more about the election, see Dearborn 2012 Election Results.
